Butterfly 3

ABSTRACT

A carton with an elongated expandable flap intended to hold items in a vehicle. Formed of a unitary sheet of blank material. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that Includes two bottom panels, a front wall, a rear wall, first side wall, and a second side wall that define the cavity. Two generally rectangular, opposed first and second side wall are connected to the remaining opposed edges of the bottom panels and project upward therefrom. Each front and rear wall is connected at one of its edges to one of two opposed edges of the bottom panels and projects upward therefrom. A different embodiment could comprise an integrated top panel for closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to food cartons, particularly folded food cartons formed from unitary carton blank into an economical, reusable carton appropriate for temporary storage of food or other items.

2. Background Art

With today's busy lifestyle and the popularity of fast food, a lot of people consume meals while in their vehicle. Today, most fast food consumed in vehicles, is eaten out of a paper bag. A bag with multiple containers inside of it is distracting and makes it difficult for drivers to easily and safely eat while consuming food in a vehicle. This has created a need for a safer and more convenient way to eat or hold other items while in your car. This invention addresses that issue. This invention creates extra space in a vehicle, for holding items, promoting less distracted driving and allowing food or other items to be stored conveniently and close at hand. The carton offers a convenient and stable vessel for holding items a user may want to use or have close at hand including food. The main use of this carton is to provide a space to hold items that fit inside of it. This carton provides a more convenient way to hold multiple items. The carton is created by using dye cutting tools or any other cutting tool. The carton is produced in a flat horizontal form then further folded by the manufacturer into a partially assembled carton. Within seconds, a person can easily fold the carton into its usable form with their hands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable carton comprising a bottom, four sides, and a flap. The carton creates an interior space for receiving items in a stable format. The carton has a fully integrated flap that is elongated and can expand in width. The carton can be held between two opposing objects. The carton is configured as a flat stack. The carton is collapsible in such a manner that it can form a flat stack of panels. It is relatively compact and allows for easy storage. The collapsible carton has a locking element in its bottom panel and can temporarily connect adjacent sides including the bottom of the carton to one another. The foldable carton is made from a unitary sheet of material, generally in a rectangular shape bound by four edges. It uses integrated gussets, and a two piece locking bottom panel. A user can latch and unlatch the locking elements with his or her hand to fold and unfold the carton. When the collapsible carton is configured it can be sturdy, strong and stable, making it suitable to hold objects. When the carton is configured it forms an internal cavity for internal placement of objects. The foldable carton can be a replacement for the paper bag while consuming food or holding other items in a vehicle or elsewhere. The foldable carton can be recyclable, economical, and reusable. The foldable carton can be assembled and used in seconds. The carton can rest on the edge of a vehicle seat between an opposing object such as a vehicle console. The carton could be held by a person's leg or legs. The carton can be used in a stadium being supported by a person's legs to hold food items. The flap is intended to be inserted beside a vehicle's seat and an opposing object in the vehicle such as a console creating stability for the carton while being able to hold items. This would normally be done by sliding it from the front of the seat toward the back. The flap can be expanded by the user creating width to fill the gap between a vehicle's seat and vehicle's center console providing stability to the carton while being used in a vehicle. In addition, because of its expandable flap, the carton can be held between a person's legs. The carton is intended to hold items that fit inside of it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which;

1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled carton thereof;

2. FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the assembled carton thereof;

3. FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the assembled carton thereof;

4. FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the assembled carton thereof;

5. FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the assembled carton thereof;

6. FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the assembled carton thereof;

7. FIG. 7 is a left side elevation view of the assembled carton thereof;

8. FIG. 8 is a top plan perspective view of the carton completely unassembled thereof;

9. FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the carton completely unassembled thereof;

10. FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the carton completely unassembled thereof;

11. FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof;

12. FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof;

13. FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof;

14. FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof;

15. FIG. 15 is bottom plan view of the carton partially assembled and folded thereof;

16. FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the carton partially assembled and folded thereof;

17. FIG. 17 is a rear elevation view of the carton partially assembled and folded thereof;

18. FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the carton partially assembled and folded thereof;

19. FIG. 19 is an illustration of carton with top panel thereof;

20. FIG. 20 is a sideview illustration of carton with top panel thereof;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled carton thereof; formed of a unitary sheet of material, has two opposing front, and rear walls(4,2), and two opposing side walls(3,5) connected by gusset(1), flap(12,13,14) assembled and expanded, fully integrated and formed as part of rear wall(2) and in expanded view, with partial view of one of the two bottom panels(10); FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the assembled carton thereof; showing front of carton(4), with said flap(12,13,14) fully assembled and expanded, folded at rear wall(2); FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the assembled carton thereof; showing rear wall of carton(2), showing single side of flap(13) folded into its assembled position; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of assembled carton thereof; gusset(1) connected to first side wall(5), connecting contiguous panels(2, 3, 4, 5) creating the carton shape; gusset(9) connected to gusset(8) with fold lines; gusset(7) connected to 6 with fold lines; bottom panels 1(10,11) locked creating bottom of carton; flap(12,13,14) assembled and expanded, connected to rear wall(2), FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the assembled carton thereof; bottom panels(10,11) locked creating bottom of carton; flap(12,13,14) assembled and expanded, connected to rear wall(2); FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the assembled carton thereof; sidewall(3) connected front wall(4), and rear wall(2); rear wall(2), flap(12,13,14) assembled and expanded, connected to rear wall(2); FIG. 7 is a left side elevation view of the assembled carton thereof; sidewall(5) connected front wall(4), and rear wall(2); rear wall(2), flap(12,13,14) assembled and expanded, connected to rear wall (2); FIG. 8 is a top plan perspective view of the carton completely unassembled thereof formed of a unitary sheet of material includes two bottom walls(10,11), a front wall(4), a rear wall(2), first sidewall(3), and a second sidewall(5) that define the cavity that an item is placed. Sidewall(5) is connected to flap(1); First sidewall(3) has a gusset(7) that is connected to the folded corner(6) of bottom wall(10; Second sidewall(5) has a gusset(9) that is connected to the folded corner(8) of bottom wall(11); flap(12,13) is connected to the rear wall that folds upon itself creating two layers, extending past the bottom of the carton and has the capability to flex open at the folded end(14); FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the carton completely unassembled thereof; includes two bottom walls(10,11), a front wall(4), a rear wall(2), first sidewall(3), and a second sidewall(5) that define the cavity that an item is placed. Sidewall(5) is connected to flap(1); First sidewall(3) has a gusset(7) that is connected to the folded corner(6) of bottom wall(10); Second sidewall(5) has a gusset(9) that is connected to the folded corner(8) of bottom wall(11); flap(12,13) is connected to the rear wall that folds upon itself creating two layers, extending past the bottom of the carton and has the capability to flex open at the folded end(14); FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the carton completely unassembled thereof; includes two bottom panels(10,11), a front wall(4), a rear wall(2), first sidewall(3), and a second sidewall(5) that define the cavity that an item is placed. Sidewall(5) is connected to gusset(1); First sidewall(3) has a gusset(7) that is connected to folded corner(6) of bottom wall(10); Second sidewall(5) has a gusset(9) that is connected to folded corner(8) of bottom wall(11); flap(12,13,14) is formed as part of rear wall that folds upon itself creating two layers, extending past the bottom of the carton and when assembled has the capability to flex open at the folded end(14); FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof; showing flap(12,13,14) unfolded, and formed as part of rear wall (2); FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof; showing flap(12,13,14) folded into assembled position, formed as part of rear wall(2); FIG. 13 is front perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof; showing bottom panel(11) with fold(8) and gusset(9) connects to bottom panel(11) allowing the carton to fold and unfold; FIG. 14 is another front perspective view of the carton partially assembled thereof; showing bottom panels(10,11) connected creating the bottom of the carton. FIG. 15 is bottom plan view of the carton partially assembled and folded thereof; carton closes and opens sideways; shows the partial assembly of the container of the present invention, which would normally be done by the manufacturer of the carton blank. FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the carton folded thereof; first side wall(5) attached to front panel(4) in closed position, flap(12,13,14) in fully closed position; FIG. 17 is a rear elevation view of the carton folded thereof; second side wall(3) attached to rear wall(2), flap(12,13,14) formed as part of rear wall(2) in closed position; FIG. 18 . is a side elevation view of the carton folded thereof; second side wall(3) attached to rear wall(2), flap(12,13,14) formed as part of rear wall(2) in fully closed position; FIG. 19 is an illustration of assembled carton with top panel thereof; FIG. 20 is a side view illustration of carton with top panel thereof; 

I claim:
 1. A structure for forming a carton comprising: two bottom panels each being generally rectangular and having four corners, said two bottom panels lying parallel and opposed to each other; a pair of generally rectangular, opposed front wall and rear wall connecting opposed edges of the bottom panel at fold lines to form a collapsible tube of generally rectangular cross-section with a pair of closed ends when assembled; a pair of generally rectangular, opposed first side wall and second side wall, both such being connected at fold lines to an edge of said bottom panel at each side of the closed ends of said tube; a fully integrated elongated and expandable flap comprising two walls with an expandable bottom.
 2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; gussets are connected between the adjacent side panels and front and rear walls, each at opposing corners of the bottom panels.
 3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; each such gusset is connected to first side wall gusset and second side wall gusset at fold lines with a bonding material such as glue, each of said gussets also being connected to the front wall gusset and rear wall gusset adjacent to form a link between each sidewall gusset and the adjacent wall, each said gusset further having a fold lines extending away from each corner of said bottom panel.
 4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; a fully integrated, elongated, expandable flap comprising two walls with an expandable bottom.
 5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; said flap is integrated in at least one of the plurality of panels.
 6. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; said flap folds and can expand upon itself creating an expandable pocket.
 7. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; bottom of said flap's expandable pocket is shaped and scored so that when pushed upward can allow the pocket walls to move away from each other.
 8. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; expansion of the flap creates stability by filling multiple size gaps including a vehicle's seat and console.
 9. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; flap can create a more stable carton between two opposing objects.
 10. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the front and rear walls and side walls are integrally formed with said bottom panels.
 11. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the two bottom panels when assembled create a full size bottom panel that locks together.
 12. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the gussets are integrally formed with said bottom panels front and rear walls and side panels.
 13. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the flap is integrated with said carton wall.
 14. A carton with an integrated expandable flap providing additional stability in a vehicle.
 15. A carton with an integrated expandable flap providing additional stability between two opposing objects. 